A feeling of hope and repose stole
over him;--when suddenly he saw at the door, which was ajar, the leering
eyes and villainously cunning countenance of Billy.
"What do you want?" he said angrily, casting at the intruder a look of
intense disgust.
"Beg pardon, sir," said the man, pulling his hair. "Anything in my line,
sir, to-day?"
"No!" answered Eric, rising up in a gust of indignation. "What business
have you here? Get away instantly."
"Not had much custom from you lately, sir," said the man.
"What do you mean by having the insolence to begin talking to me? If you
don't make yourself scarce at once, I'll--"
"O well," said the man; "if it comes to that, I've business enough.
Perhaps you'll just pay me this debt," he continued, changing his
fawning manner into a bullying swagger. "I've waited long enough."
Eric, greatly discomfited, took the dirty bit of paper. It purported to
be a bill for various items of drink, all of which Eric _knew_ to have
been paid for, and among other things, a charge of L6 for the dinner at
the "Jolly Herring.
Pages:
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413